Williams MansionManhattan, New York, US. 4 PMEverything went well—far better than Claire had expected when she received a surprise this morning.Well, Mikael’s arrival and… his woman had caused quite a bit of tension. Claire had even considered all the worst-case scenarios that could happen if Mikael was there while Cecilia was also at the mansion.But that didn’t happen...Cecilia stayed quietly in her room with the maid, while Mikael left right after their late breakfast as if he deliberately didn’t want to linger after realizing Claire was also there.Josephine had mentioned that Mikael never celebrated Christmas with her, but suddenly, he showed up with his woman—the same one Claire had seen five years ago. And without any explanation about their relationship, Claire could already conclude that they… were very close.Ignoring Mikael’s influence was incredibly difficult. She had tried hard over the past five years, but she had to admit that there were moments in her life when tho
New York StreetManhattan, New York, US. 8 PM“She's still there," Nancy pointed toward the TV screen displaying the CCTV footage.The news of Claire losing her daughter had quickly spread throughout the café. A manager had approached to help while other staff members searched every corner of the café, even those rarely accessed by customers—storage rooms and the kitchen. Some even searched outside, checking the souvenir shop across the street, the place Cecilia had initially wanted to visit.But they found nothing.Cecilia wasn’t there, and now Claire was tracking her daughter’s last appearance on the CCTV footage.Then… something happened. Cecilia ran out of view of the camera. She disappeared from the recording. There was no trace of where she had gone. She had run towards the café door, following a man who called out to her—waving her over before picking her up and carrying her out of the café."Oh God," Claire closed her eyes, trying not to break down in hysterical sobs, even tho
Mikael MansionManhattan, New York, US. 11 PM“Mikael, I need you.”The words Claire had spoken at his apartment door kept echoing vividly in Mikael’s mind—repeating as if purposely driving him even crazier after everything he had been through today.“You came to me just to sit in my living room? Are you serious?”Unable to hold it in any longer, the words slipped out of his mouth—pulling Claire from whatever thoughts were consuming her.Everything was clear from the look in her eyes… empty—like all hope had drained away.“I need money,” Claire whispered softly. Her face was filled with despair as if she was facing a burden too great for her to bear alone.Her sentence was shocking.Of course, Mikael hadn’t expected that to be the first thing she said after her prolonged silence.However, Mikael didn’t show any reaction. He took a drag from the cigarette between his fingers and exhaled deeply. “How much?” He raised an eyebrow—trying to suppress the pounding in his chest that was on th
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 11 AMMikael couldn’t believe it when he heard the phone call interrupting his peaceful morning—a morning that made him not want to leave the bed because he remembered Claire was still asleep beside him the last time he closed his eyes.Or... not.Because when he opened his eyes, he found no one.“Shit!”The room, dark throughout the night, was now fully illuminated as sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window.Mikael nearly jumped in shock when he saw the clock on the wall.11 AM?No way. He hadn’t slept this deeply in the last six years, and he couldn’t believe he had slept in so late as if all his problems had disappeared.Fuck. Claire needed money... and he had slept so late that she had already left him.“What’s going on?” Mikael almost snapped at the caller, but fortunately, he still had enough presence of mind to control his voice.“Mr. Williams, it’s me, Trevor. I’m calling to inform you that a woman claiming to be your wife
Manhattan’s BankManhattan, New York, US. 11 PMClaire still couldn’t believe what she was doing. Losing Cecilia, going to Mikael, doing the unthinkable, stealing money from him, then running through the bank’s back door with three bags larger than her body.Cecilia...Claire would get her back—she would save her.And Claire didn’t regret doing all these crazy things for her daughter. She would do anything for Cecilia—anything.“Hurry if you don’t want to be late. Frankly, you’re already an hour late.”Her phone rang once more, and she considered ignoring it, thinking Mikael was calling—just like the dozens of calls he’d made after they had spoken using the bank manager’s phone.“I got the money. Please understand it takes time to gather this much.” Claire closed her eyes briefly while still trying to drag the three large bags, “just wait there for two more minutes.”“You’d better hurry, someone’s already waiting for you there,” Anderson responded quickly. “Stop talking and hand your
Somewhere in New York. 1 PMDiscovering that Linda was a traitor and learning that Hernandez was still the one behind all of this was deeply shocking.For a moment, Mikael couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Linda standing there with a gun pointed at Claire’s head.It felt like just yesterday, they were talking in the car after leaving his parents’ house. He never imagined that woman—the whore—could turn into a traitor in the blink of an eye.Or maybe not in the blink of an eye. She had been a traitor from the beginning. He was the one who had been fooled, allowing her to stay one step behind him the entire time.But who cares about Linda now that Lionel and his team have likely dealt with her?Chasing Claire. That was all Mikael focused on—chasing Claire as she had just run away from him into the old building at the end of the yard.There had been an explosion from inside the building, but when they entered, no one was there.“Oh God,” Claire covered her mouth, tears streaming down
Somewhere in New York. 1 PM“Long time no see, Hernandez,” Mikael said calmly. “What the hell are you doing this time?”Mikael spoke with a calmness that seemed so real, as if he wasn’t afraid of anything, even though they had just realized that there was no way out of the building while time was ticking away. However, Mikael’s calmness didn’t affect Claire at all. She could feel her legs trembling—fearful, deeply cared.She remembered how she had decided to come without the slightest bit of fear to meet Mikael, steal money from him, and leave with Linda to meet Anderson here. And now, as she stood face to face with Anderson, all her fears merged and hit her at once.“Mommy,” Cecilia’s soft voice was the only thing that pulled Claire out of her shock, making her tune back into the conversation between Mikael and Anderson, who both stood ready with guns in hand. If Mikael fired, the place would turn into a terrifying battlefield in just a few seconds. The same would happen if Anderson
Somewhere in New York, 1 PM.“I’m glad you still remember me,” David sneered, “I thought after returning to the United States, you’d forget your lover in Canada because you decided to go back to your ex-husband.”The shock in Claire’s eyes was still very evident. However, Claire knew her surprise wouldn’t change anything—it wouldn’t end or fix anything.So she shook her head—giving a single sentence to refute David’s words, “He’s my husband, not my ex-husband.” She replied confidently, hoping for a miracle to be on her side amid the crushing situation.“Ah,” David snapped his fingers, “I think I forgot some details. Forgive me if that’s the case. But, I’m sure my little Cecilia hasn’t forgotten me.” He walked closer, “isn’t that right, Cecilia?”“Mom,” Cecilia tightened her hug, and Claire could feel the fear so clearly in her daughter’s voice.“Why are you doing all this?” Claire turned towards the door—hoping someone would come through and save her once again. “How much did Anderson
Mikael’s Mansion.Yonkers, New York, US. A few months later.Mikael gazed at the sprawling grounds of his mansion, which had begun to bloom with flowers, with butterflies fluttering freely.Claire had started planting flowers in their mansion’s yard two weeks ago, and the blossoms were beginning to bloom in the spring, transforming the once-dreary mansion into something beautiful.Mikael had been away from that building for nearly six years. Even though there were still servants cleaning and maintaining the place every day, it had felt gloomy when they first moved in a few months ago.However, Claire only took a few days to make significant changes to the mansion. Cecilia's laughter echoed in every corner, bringing a new light that Mikael had never imagined before. Claire had begun to do her part—adding magical touches that his mind struggled to comprehend, but his heart could feel.And now, as spring had arrived, everything was starting to grow lushly—especially Mikael's heart, which
Chapter 117 Perfect Family in the MorningMikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 9 AMClaire nearly jumped in surprise when she felt a cold kiss on her neck in the midst of the chilly air. Her hands moved to push the man away—the only person allowed to do such a thing to her.“Mike,” she groaned irritably.“Are you going to keep hiding under the blankets until the afternoon?” Mikael chuckled and continued showering her with cold kisses along her neck and face.Claire opened her eyes and pouted. When she turned her head, she didn’t find Cecilia there and concluded that she had woken up late, meaning Cecilia was already awake.“Get away from me!” she said while pushing Mikael away, even though she knew her refusal was futile.“Do you really want me to go?” Mikael raised his eyebrows.Claire rolled her eyes as she noticed the drastic change in their interactions.She had known Mikael her entire life, but she felt unprepared for all of this. Waking up to see Mikael’s handsome face in
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 1 AMOnce again, Claire woke up with soreness between her thighs, and the memories of what she’d done replayed in her mind. Her eyes weren’t fully open yet, but she knew it was still nighttime—the sun hadn’t risen, unlike a few days ago when she awoke.A large, warm hand wrapped around her waist tightly, keeping her from falling off the sofa in the living room. A thick blanket covered her bare body, and she knew that the man behind her was also still undressed, even though he was awake.She could feel the gentle strokes along her back and steady breaths against her neck. The man hadn’t said a word, but Claire knew he was awake, or at least hadn’t slept since she had immediately closed her eyes after their last... game, however many hours ago.She had been right to worry—she’d lose control again if she let Mikael talk to her at night. And yes, she had lost control once more.There was no denying that she missed every touch from this man. Ther
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 9 PMSnow once again blanketed the streets of New York, which were adorned with Christmas lights and bustling with pedestrians going about their activities. Some chose to step aside, seeking warmth from the cold, while others continued to stroll, enjoying the frozen snowflakes falling around them.Amid the hustle of New York, Mikael opted to sit in the main room of his apartment with two mugs of hot chocolate—one for him and one for Claire.The cool air from the balcony door, which wasn’t fully closed, made the room feel cold—typical of the chilly end-of-year weather.Mikael had endured many terrible years, but it seemed he would close this one with a sweet gift—Cecilia.“This is the best year-end I’ve ever had,” Mikael smiled.Sometimes, he forgot the last time he had smiled, but in the past few days, he had lost count of how many times he’d smiled because it happened so often.“Good for you,” Claire responded flatly.Sometimes, Mikael wond
Michael’s GraveManhattan, New York, US. 9 AMClaire stepped forward, clutching a bouquet of white roses she had bought just before arriving at... her destination.“Mom,” Cecilia reached for her hand, prompting Claire to turn and offer a brief smile to the little girl.“That’s okay, Cecilia.” Mikael crouched in front of Cecilia and lifted her into his arms when he noticed she felt scared.Claire had never taken Cecilia to a cemetery before, but Cecilia had seen graves on television, and it always piqued her curiosity.Cecilia didn’t have anyone to visit in Canada, so she never went to a cemetery. But now, she was in New York, and… she felt like she had to visit one of the graves she missed the most—Michael’s grave.“Daddy, I’m scared,” Cecilia said quietly, hiding her face against Mikael’s chest.“Aren’t you here with Daddy and Mommy?” Mikael kissed her hair softly, “You don’t need to be scared, right?”“Yes, Daddy.” Cecilia nodded but kept hiding her face, making Mikael chuckle affec
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 11 PMTime passes day by day, and Claire feels unable to stop them. The end of the year is approaching, but she feels she still can’t leave this year behind—a year that has brought her many surprises and… happiness.She is living in Mikael’s apartment.They sleep together in the same room, on the same bed, and under the same blanket. However, nothing happens between them except… sleep, in the literal meaning.It’s not that Claire wants anything else. Honestly, she still can’t believe what she did with Mikael on the nights following the moment she killed Anderson with a gun in her hand.That night, she was completely unhinged and couldn’t think clearly. Everything she discussed with Mikael drove her further into madness, and they ended that madness in an even crazier way. However, she would try to control herself not to do that again… at least until she was truly sure about her decisions and what she wanted to do next.Now, she lives with Mik
Williams MansionManhattan, New York, US. 1 PM“Oh my God,” Josephine Williams gasped, covering her mouth in surprise when she saw Claire standing at the mansion door.“Mom,” Claire gave a brief smile and reached out to hug her.They had met briefly yesterday, but that encounter meant nothing to either Josephine or Claire. At the time, everything was chaotic, and Claire’s only concern had been calming Cecilia, who was crying hysterically out of fear.“My dear,” Josephine sighed as she hugged Claire, “I’ve been waiting for word from you since last night.”“Sorry to make you worry, Mom. I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”“I know you’re fine,” Josephine released the hug and cupped Claire’s face, looking at her closely. “I just needed to hear from you. It’s the only thing that could ease my mind.”Claire smiled and nodded. Years had passed since her childhood, but Josephine still saw her as a little princess she would always worry about. Claire hadn’t understood Josephine’s mind
Mikael’s Mansion Manhattan, New York, US. 10 AM “Do you like these eggs, Cecilia?” “Can I have more?” “You want more?” “I want! I want!” “Sure, Princess! You’ll have mine, and I’ll make another one for you.” Claire blinked as the voices broke through her sleep. She opened her eyes for a few seconds, but the pull of sleep soon coaxed them shut again. Sunlight poured through the large windows at the center of the room, illuminating the sofa that faced the balcony. Despite it being late in the year, the day was bright enough for the midday sun to break through and gently warm Claire’s still-closed eyelids. She stretched, feeling a familiar ache from yesterday morning—the same kind of soreness she used to experience years ago. As much as she wanted to forget what had happened last night, Claire couldn’t deny that when she closed her eyes, all she could think about was the way Mikael had kissed her, letting his hands roam her body—touching her with tenderness and passion. “Daddy,
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 4 AMMikael still couldn’t believe what had just happened.Yes, it was hard for him to truly accept that, at this moment, he was lying next to Claire, who was curled up, shivering under his arm. Her eyes were closed while her body, from her waist down to her feet, was covered by the thick blanket he had given her after they had finished their long, wild sex.Claire’s confession had made Mikael lose control. He didn’t know how else to express the madness in his heart but through a kiss, a reflex to Claire’s long confession. However, that kiss had only ignited a fire within him, pulling him back into the burning circle.And the more surprising thing was... Claire accepted his touch.Mikael leaned down to kiss Claire’s shoulder and whatever else his lips could reach—her head, her forehead, and the nape of her neck, which was covered by strands of her red hair.Claire had stopped coloring her hair since Mikael wasn’t sure when. But he remembered